Assam flood death toll rises to 75, CM announces relief measures

In Assam, the official flood death toll has risen to 75, with seven more deaths reported from Sivasagar district alone. The flood situation in the affected districts of Upper Assam is gradually returning to normal, with floodwaters receding from most areas. Essential services, including electricity, have been restored in a majority of the flood-affected localities. Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced an ex-gratia of 4 lakh rupees for families of persons who lost their lives in flood-related incidents, without the requirement of a post-mortem examination. A series of relief and rehabilitation measures include an ex-gratia of 4 lakh rupees to the families of persons who remain missing for more than 30 days, subject to due procedures.Under the Orunodoi scheme, beneficiaries in the flood-hit districts of Charaideo, Jorhat, Golaghat and Sivasagar will receive 2,500 rupees for the month of August when the scheme resumes on the 1st of next month.

The seven districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Sonitpur and Kamrup Metropolitan are still reeling under the deluge, affecting 21 revenue circles and 622 villages, the officials said. The flood-hit population was at 3.32 lakh, and Charaideo was the worst-hit district with 1.42 lakh people impacted, followed by Sivasagar (97,074) and Jorhat (57,371). The seven fatalities on Tuesday were reported from Nazria revenue circle of Sivasagar district, taking the toll in the floods this year to 75, the officials said. A crop area of 45,341.98 hectares has been submerged, while damage to various infrastructure like houses, cow sheds, schools and anganwadi centres was also reported from across the flood-hit districts.
Multiple agencies, including the Army, Air Force, NDRF, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services and civil volunteers, continued to carry out relief and rescue operations. The government has also announced educational assistance for students of severely affected districts from August 1. This includes book grants of 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 rupees. Free textbooks and assistance for purchasing school uniforms will also be provided. The assessment of damage to houses, livestock, fisheries and crops will begin on August 3, following which compensation will be provided to eligible beneficiaries.